Not feeling well? Your pharmacy can deal with minor health problems and save you a visit to your GP

Every year, millions of us visit our GP with minor health problems that a local pharmacy could help with.

By visiting your pharmacy instead of your GP, you could save yourself time and trouble – no need to book an appointment, just walk in. This also means your GP can focus on treating people who are sicker than you.

Pharmacists can help recognise and treat many common illnesses. They can give advice and where appropriate, recommend over-the-counter medicines that could help clear up the problem.

If they think you need to see a GP for your illness, they will advise you to do that.

Minor ailment scheme

In some parts of the country, there are NHS minor ailment schemes. These allow pharmacies to provide you with medicines for free on the NHS, as well as giving you advice and support about how to care for minor conditions yourself.

The medicines covered by the scheme are different depending on where in England you live, so you will need to talk to your local pharmacy about what they offer.

Anyone who doesn't normally have to pay for prescriptions from their GP – for example because they're under 16, over 60 or on benefits – is eligible for the scheme and will not need to pay for the medicine that the pharmacist suggests.